Final answer:
Stanley Milgram's classic studies on obedience, initiated post World War II, aimed to understand humans' willingness to obey authority figures, even when it conflicts with their conscience. These experiments revealed that a majority of participants were willing to administer what they believed to be harmful electric shocks to others, under the instructions of an authority figure. Later studies have replicated and supported Milgram's findings, showcasing the persistent relevance of obedience in social psychology.
Step-by-step explanation:
Stanley Milgram was a social psychologist who conducted pioneering studies on obedience, especially in the context of how people respond to authority figures. Milgram became interested in the question of obedience following the trial of Adolf Eichmann, a Nazi war criminal, which prompted widespread debate about whether the soldiers in concentration camps were simply following orders. Milgram's obedience experiments began in 1961 at Yale University, where participants were instructed to give what they believed were electric shocks to another person when they answered questions incorrectly. The experiments revealed that a significant majority of participants would follow an authority figure's instructions, even when they believed they were causing harm to others, thus demonstrating people's pronounced tendency to comply with authority.
Subsequent research, such as the studies by Martin and Bull, Burger, and Doliński et al., confirmed and expanded upon Milgram's findings, showing that obedience to authority figures could readily compel individuals to act against their own ethical beliefs, a concept prevalent in professions like midwifery and extending across various cultures. The Milgram Experiment remains a cornerstone in social psychology, illustrating the powerful influence of authority on human behavior.